President Donald Trump’s administration has wasted no time implementing its hardline immigration agenda, deporting approximately 100,000 individuals in its first few months – a mix of undocumented immigrants and some lawful permanent residents without criminal records. This aggressive approach fulfills Trump’s campaign promise to conduct the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history, targeting not just border crossers but anyone violating immigration laws.
Recent cases like that of Columbia graduate student and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil demonstrate how even legal residents now face increased scrutiny. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) maintains that green card holders can lose their status for actions making them “removable under immigration law,” including certain offenses or failure to file taxes.
Significant changes have been made to the marriage-based green card process. Applicants must now use an updated Form I-485 that reintroduces the term “alien” while adding gender identity options. The revised form includes a new “public charge” section requiring detailed financial disclosures about household income, assets, debts, and any public assistance received. Applicants must also list their highest education level and professional certifications – requirements some immigration attorneys view as potential deterrents for less affluent applicants.
A major procedural shift involves the reinstatement of mandatory in-person interviews for marriage-based green cards, reversing Biden-era policies that waived them for straightforward cases. Immigration attorney Rachel Einbund notes this return to interviews aligns with Trump’s “enhanced vetting” directives, though no official executive order has been issued. While the Biden administration’s waiver system helped reduce backlogs, Trump officials argue face-to-face interviews provide better fraud detection.
Critics contend the new financial and educational disclosures serve more as barriers than legitimate screening tools. Einbund describes them as “scare tactics” that may discourage otherwise eligible applicants. Supporters counter that stricter requirements ensure only self-sufficient immigrants gain residency.
As the administration continues refining its immigration policies, further changes are expected in coming weeks that could impact families, students and workers navigating an increasingly complex system. The rapid pace of reforms has left many immigrants and their attorneys scrambling to adapt to the evolving landscape.
